BCCI to Drop Shami From England Tests Over Fitness Concerns ; ‘We Can’t Take Chances’ – Report
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami is reportedly set to miss the upcoming five-match Test series against England, according to the Indian Express. The 34-year-old, who underwent ankle surgery earlier this year, is believed to be short of the match fitness required for sustained bowling spells in red-ball cricket. This development comes just days before the Indian Test squad is expected to be announced.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) medical team has conveyed to the board that while Shami has returned to competitive play in the Indian Premier League (IPL), bowling four-over spells for Sunrisers Hyderabad, his current workload doesn’t instill confidence in his ability to endure the demands of Test cricket.
A board source, speaking to the Indian Express, stated, “Shami is bowling four overs in IPL for Sunrisers Hyderabad but the board and selectors don’t know whether he can bowl more than 10 overs in a day. Test matches in England may demand longer spells from the pacers and we can’t take chances.”
While there were internal discussions about including Shami for select matches, concerns over Jasprit Bumrah’s workload limitations reportedly made Shami an uncertain choice. There have been reports suggesting that Bumrah informed team management he was unwilling to shoulder the burden of all five Tests, which also contributed to his absence from the Test captaincy discussion.
Selectors are reportedly prioritizing fully fit bowlers who can handle prolonged spells throughout the potentially grueling five-Test series.
Arshdeep Singh a Potential Inclusion:
Shami’s last appearance in red-ball cricket was in the 2023 World Test Championship final against Australia at The Oval. A prolonged recovery period and limited match fitness have since impacted his standing. His potential exclusion could pave the way for emerging pacers such as left-armer Arshdeep Singh and Haryana’s Anshul Kamboj. Arshdeep, who played county cricket for Kent last year, is considered a strong contender, while Kamboj has already been named in the India A squad for their England tour.
Meanwhile, the upcoming squad announcement is also anticipated to include a change in leadership. Shubman Gill is widely considered the frontrunner to assume India’s red-ball captaincy, having reportedly engaged in discussions with head coach Gautam Gambhir and chief selector Ajit Agarkar recently.